Fated Hearts: Reborn to be His Duchess

Chapter 10: Chapter 10: Shock Therapy

Cassiel did not even glance at Lucien.

Instead, his eyes lowered toward Elysia.

From where he stood, he could clearly see the thin sheen of sweat glistening across her forehead.

"Will you give me the sword?"

His voice was low and hoarse, almost sounding like a quiet suggestion rather than an order.

Elysia nodded faintly.

Perhaps because the shock still had not faded, her voice trembled slightly despite herself.

Cassiel noticed immediately.

His brows drew together almost imperceptibly.

Then he reached out and took the heavy iron sword from her hands.

The blade that nearly made Elysia’s arms give out moments ago now rested effortlessly in his grip, as though it weighed nothing at all.

Only then did Cassiel finally lift his gaze toward Lucien.

The Drakemont bloodline was famous throughout Aveanlor for its beauty.

Cassiel possessed a face almost too striking for a battlefield.

But years of war carved something colder into him.

Sharper.

Darker.

After countless battles soaked in blood and death, the aura surrounding him became terrifying without him even realizing it.

Standing there silently with the sword in hand, he resembled death itself.

Lucien could not even force himself to meet his eyes.

His entire body stiffened uncontrollably.

Then Cassiel finally spoke.

"What exactly did you say just now?"

His tone remained calm.

Too calm.

Like still water moments before a storm shattered across it.

Lucien’s legs gave out immediately.

He dropped heavily onto his knees.

"Cassiel—I was wrong!"

His voice shook violently.

"I know I was wrong! I swear I’ll never do it again—never again!"

Every physician in the palace examined Cassiel already.

Every single one declared the same thing.

That Duke Cassiel would never wake again.

Not after suffering injuries like those.

Otherwise...

How could Lucien possibly dare come tonight?

Ever since childhood, he feared this cousin of his.

Feared the coldness in Cassiel’s eyes.

Feared the merciless way he handled everything.

And now—

He had been caught red-handed attempting to violate Cassiel’s newly wedded wife.

"I asked," Cassiel interrupted quietly, "what exactly did you say."

The sword in his hand rotated slightly.

Its sharp tip scraped lightly against the floor.

A cold metallic shriek echoed sharply through the room.

Lucien shuddered violently.

Cold sweat gathered along his spine.

"I... I said..."

He swallowed hard before lifting his head shakily.

"I said... if we sent everyone away, then we could..."

His voice weakened further.

"Be together right here in front of you..."

"Not that sentence."

Cassiel interrupted again.

His tone remained even, yet it smothered the entire room like fog swallowing a mountain path.

The rest of Lucien’s words died instantly in his throat.

He racked his memory desperately before finally stammering:

"I also said... said that you would never know... That every physician and healer already declared you would never wake again."

His face turned pale.

"And that you were... already useless."

Cassiel nodded once.

"That line."

Something almost resembling amusement entered his voice.

But it was not warmth.

It was the kind of smile that made blood freeze.

Then—

Cassiel stepped forward.

The sword tip dragged slowly against the stone floor.

The sound was shrill and terrifying, like claws scraping their way upward from the underworld itself.

Lucien nearly collapsed completely.

"Please—please, Cassiel!"

He lowered his head so quickly it struck the ground hard.

"For my father’s sake!"

His voice cracked apart in panic.

"You promised to take care of our family! My father died saving your life!"

At the mention of his uncle, Cassiel’s eyes narrowed faintly.

At last, he stopped directly in front of Lucien.

Lucien looked up desperately.

His face was covered in tears and sweat.

"So... so you’ll forgive me, right?... I truly regret it. I swear I do—"

"For your father’s sake," Cassiel said coldly, "I’ll spare your life this time."

Lucien’s eyes lit instantly.

Then Cassiel’s gaze sharpened.

"But if there is a next time..."

His voice lowered dangerously.

"I’ll personally send you down to your father so he can discipline you himself."

The blood drained from Lucien’s face.

Then overwhelming relief flooded him immediately afterward.

"Yes! Yes, understood!"

He kowtowed frantically several more times.

"You’re absolutely right! I’ll behave properly from now on!"

Cassiel frowned slightly.

"Get out."

Lucien did not wait for a second command.

He scrambled toward the door almost on all fours.

Outside the chamber, Miriam nearly jumped in shock.

"Lord Lucien?"

Confusion crossed her face.

"Didn’t you already leave earlier? How did you—"

But Lucien ignored her completely.

He wiped sweat from his face and fled in utter panic.

Miriam stared after him suspiciously.

Then she immediately turned toward the chamber.

"Your Grace?"

Her voice rose anxiously.

"Is everything all right?"

The moment the title sounded through the room—

Cassiel visibly froze.

The sword nearly slipped from his grasp.

Elysia blinked before turning toward him softly.

"Should I let them in?"

Cassiel did not answer immediately.

Instead, he repeated the title slowly beneath his breath.

"Your Grace?"

The final syllable lifted slightly, almost carrying curiosity.

Elysia’s cheeks flushed warm.

"It was His Majesty," she explained softly.

"When he asked who I wished to marry... I chose you."

Cassiel looked at her quietly.

"So you chose me?"

Elysia nodded.

But then, remembering the rumors she once heard—

That Cassiel already loved another woman—

She hurriedly added:

"But that’s alright. I know this marriage came from a royal decree."

Her voice softened further.

"If you wish, we can divorce at any time."

Silence filled the room.

Then Cassiel asked quietly:

"And after the divorce?"

His dark eyes lowered toward her.

"You’ll return to His Highness?"

Elysia stiffened instantly.

Caught completely off guard.

Before she could deny it—

Clang.

The sword slipped from Cassiel’s hand and struck the floor heavily.

Elysia’s eyes widened in alarm.

She heard countless stories about that sword before.

How Cassiel personally cleaned it after every battle.

How he polished it carefully with silk.

How he treasured it almost like a living companion.

And now...

He dropped it without hesitation.

"Elysia."

His voice sounded once more.

Low.

Hoarse.

Tired.

She looked up immediately.

"Come here."

Elysia stepped closer without resistance.

Cassiel’s face remained pale from illness.

His lips parted slightly as though he wanted to say something further.

Instead—

A sudden weight settled gently against her shoulder.

Elysia froze.

Cassiel leaned forward slowly until his forehead rested lightly beside hers.

His breathing remained slow and warm against her skin.

But he said nothing else.

After several stunned seconds, Elysia finally turned her head slightly and called softly:

"Miriam. Bran. Come inside."

—

Later that night, Royal Physician Halbrecht rushed to Draevenor Manor immediately after receiving the summons.

Bran stood nearby practically vibrating with excitement.

The moment Halbrecht withdrew his fingers from Cassiel’s wrist, Bran hurried forward.

"Well?"

His remaining eye shone brightly.

"What do you think, Physician Halbrecht?"

"Is His Grace truly recovering?"

Halbrecht frowned deeply.

"This... shouldn’t be possible."

He looked toward Cassiel, who now rested half-reclined against the bed.

"He truly woke up?"

His tone carried obvious disbelief.

Elysia sat quietly nearby.

"I saw it myself."

Halbrecht fell into deep thought for several moments.

Finally, he spoke slowly.

"His body has not recovered enough to awaken naturally."

"This kind of situation can only happen if he received an intense external stimulation."

He looked serious now.

"Something powerful enough to break through the limits of his current condition."

Then his gaze shifted toward Elysia.

"May I ask what happened immediately beforehand?"

Elysia pressed her lips together tightly.

Hidden inside her sleeve, her fingers curled into a fist.

She could not possibly say that Lucien attempted to force himself on her.

Nor that Cassiel awakened after witnessing everything.

If those words spread outside this room...

Her reputation would be destroyed completely.

Before Elysia could answer, Bran suddenly clapped his hands loudly.

"Wait!"

His expression turned thoughtful.

"So you’re saying..."

"If we keep giving His Grace strong enough shocks every now and then..."

Bran’s eye brightened hopefully.

"He might wake completely for real?"

Halbrecht blinked.

Then after a long hesitation, he answered carefully:

"I suppose... It isn’t impossible."

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